| Home brew beer has a taste unlike no other; there is | | | | The next step in making a home brew beer is stirring |
| just nothing that can compare. Plus, beer brewed at | | | | the water/ingredient mixture until it dissolves, putting |
| home can be an interesting hobby. So, if you are | | | | the lid over the pot, and leave it sitting on low heat |
| itching to get started, the following will tell you how | | | | for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes is up, put 4 gallons |
| to make beer at home. | | | | of water into your fermenter and add in your wort |
| But, before you begin, you need to gather some | | | | mix. To oxygenate your mixture, stir it for four |
| home brewing supplies. They are easy to find and do | | | | minutes. You can put in your yeast when the wort |
| not cost a lot of money, usually under $200 for | | | | mixture has cooled. |
| everything. Brewing supplies can be located at any | | | | Now, you can let the wort in your home brew beer |
| store that sells them or on the internet. The tools | | | | ferment; this is a 5 day process. During this time, |
| you will need include: | | | | continue to keep your eye on the temperature; it |
| · A Pot for Brewing | | | | needs to be 65°F and kept in a dark area of |
| · A Plastic Hose | | | | your home. When you see tiny bubbles of air moving |
| · Fermenting Device | | | | to the top of your wort, it is fermenting. |
| · A Bucket for Bottling | | | | On day number 5, check on your home brew beer. It |
| · Stopper and Airlock | | | | might take several more days, but when the air |
| · Bottle Brush and Capper | | | | bubbles disappear, you can bottle your beer. Keep |
| · A Stick-on Type Thermometer | | | | being patient; you can't rush the fermenting process; |
| · Small Bowl | | | | you could ruin your beer's taste. |
| · Saucepan | | | | Before bottling your home brew beer, you need to |
| · Oven Mitts | | | | make your primary solution, which is what gives your |
| · A Spatula | | | | beer its carbonation. So, put in two cups of water |
| · Mixing Spoons (Wooden) | | | | along with three-fourths a cup of dextrose. Boil on |
| For beginners, home brew kits are the best choice. | | | | medium heat and cool for a half an hour. Then you |
| These kits have every tool you need to get started, | | | | can pour your home brew beer into your bottling |
| like yeast and concentrated hop malt. However, you | | | | bucket. |
| will have to purchase fermentables that add unique | | | | Once in the bucket, the hose needs to be attached |
| flavors to your home brew beer. This doesn't mean | | | | to the fermenter's spigot. The hose's opposite end |
| you can't purchase your ingredients separately; | | | | should be put in the bottling bucket. After opening |
| however, kits are the best way to get all of your | | | | the spigot, your home brew beer can be moved to |
| needed supplies. | | | | the bucket. When you complete this step, take off |
| Once you buy your home brewing supplies, you must | | | | the hose and clean it; you can throw away the |
| sanitize them. Do not neglect this important step. | | | | fermenter. When you fill your bottles, leave about an |
| First, wash your supplies in hot, soapy water, and | | | | inch of room at the top of the bottle. Cap it tightly; |
| sanitize them with an iodine or chlorine solution, which | | | | there should be no leaks. |
| can be found in all home brew kits. | | | | The home brew beer process is not over yet. The |
| After sanitizing, you cant start making your home | | | | bottled beer has to be fermented for a second time |
| brew beer. Start by adding 2 qts. of water into your | | | | in a dark, cool area. Your fridge will not work; the |
| brew pot. Heat the water to steaming; once it | | | | temperature is too cold. If you have a basement, put |
| reaches 180°F, remove the pot from the heat. | | | | the beer there. After two weeks of sitting, you will |
| When you do this, you can put in your fermentables | | | | finally be able to enjoy the home brew beer you |
| and ingredients from your kit. Make sure to follow all | | | | worked so hard to make. |
| of the kit's instructions. | | | | |
